Herdenking Lance Corporal Ernest Seamen VC MM

Commemoration Lance Corporal Ernest Seamen VC MM - Geluwe - 29/09/2018

Please find below some pictures of the unveiling of the memorial plaque for Ernest Seaman VC MM at Ter Hand (Geluwe) on Saturday, 29 September 2018.

Ernest Seaman died on 29/09/1918, immediately after he captured a second german machine-gun post.

Address by Youro Casier, mayor of Wervik.

Historical details on the battle end September 1918 by Dirk Decuypere.

In the early morning of 29 September 1918 three battalions of the 36th Ulster Division, moved forward from the west with Terhand as its immediate objective. As seen from here, the 2nd Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers advanced on the right of the Oude Ieperstraat.

However, the battallion was held up by a nest of enemy machine-guns. It was then that Ernest Seaman rushed forward and captured the machine-gun position single-handed. Later on in the day he captured another machine-gun post a bit further in the same way, but was killed immediately afterwards. Due to his very gallant conduct his company was able to push forward.

Officially, Ernest was awarded the Victoria cross for this daring action.

Yet, there was more behind that decision. As a child Ernie was a gentle soul who was physically unimpressive.

In 1915 he had been classified as unfit for active front service and it was not until late in the war that – due to a shortage of men caused by battles like that of Passchendaele - that he was allowed to join a front-line unit.

With the 2nd Battallion Inniskilling Fusiliers he turned out to be a valiant personality. Chris Brooks will come backt to this, later on in this ceremony.

Ernest’s body was never found. Hence why his name can be found on the Tyne Cot Memorial, together with 13 other Inniskilling Fusiliers of the 36th Division who went missing between Terhand and Dadizele on the very same 29th of September 1918.

Ernest Seaman’s name is mentioned as well on memorials in the Somme and the United Kingdom. Today he receives a commemorative plaque in Terhand, the hamlet where he gave his life for our freedom.